Hopeful Way Ghana

Hopeful Way is a nongovernmental organisation that was registered in September 2008. The organisation established a house which serves as a protective environment for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. Hopeful Way also seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. This blog serves as a forum where interested individuals can share information about alcohol and drug addiction. Visit our website at http://hopefulway.webs.com.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

This report provides a brief summary of RA and related
activities during 2014.In preparation
for activities in 2015, a more detailed correspondence will be sent in the
coming weeks.

1.RA
planning session and board of directors meeting of March 20, 2014 – Matt’s
report dated April 11 on this meeting was distributed in April and is attached.
The RA board members are as follows:

a)Daniel O’Laughlin, Chairg.Jerry Gillen

b)Al Mooney, V. Chairh.Adolf Kofi Afful

c)Kristen Harper, Secretaryi.Matthew Brown

d)Deborah Dungee, Treasurej.David Whiters

e)Chris Budnickk.Mark Spence

f)Larry Gaines

RA advisory council members include the
following personalities and others interested in moving forward recovery in
Africa: Paul Molloy, Thomas Kimball, Emily Eisenhart, Lonnetta Albright, Mark
Webb, Jerry Moe, Gerald Marti and Janis Omide. Others who would be welcome to
serve on the advisory council include Mike Houle, Nancy Alexander, Edward Green
and others.

2.RA dinner
of March 20 – The dinner was a great success in expanding the networking of
RA. The fundraising part covered expenses, plus about $1,000 net.

3.Willingway
Foundation – Dr. Al Mooney and his Willingway Foundation continue to serve
as the 501(c)(3) “incubator” for RA until we obtain recognition from the IRS.
Tax deductable donations are received by WWF where RA has a separate account.

4.Financial
situation – The largest financial commitment of RA in 2014/15 is to Oxford
House, Inc. to keep Byron Merriweather in Ghana for one year ending June 15,
2015. Uncommitted funds in the WWF/RA account as of October 1, 2014 were
approximately $10,000.A RA checking
account has been opened at SunTrust Bank in Bethesda.

5.501(c)(3)
application – In April, receipt of the RA application was acknowledged by
the IRS. Nothing has been received since that time.

6.Byron
Merriweather in Ghana – Byron continues to be the main contribution that RA
provides to the budding recovery movement in Ghana. With Byron playing a
reduced role, the House of St. Francis continues to do very well with an
average of 20 residential clients. The “Grand Opening” of the HSF was held on
Oct. 9; it was a great success. A new HSF chairman and board of directors is
full of life.

7.Ghana
programs – Perhaps the largest contribution of RA in Ghana is fostering
cooperation among recovery players. Professionals and people in recovery from
the U.S. and Ghana are used for training purposes. A consortium meeting held on
September 25 holds much potential. Twelve-step groups continue to expand, with
about ten in Accra. Two Oxford Houses for men are doing well. An Oxford House
with program for women is in its formation stages.About $12,000 is needed to pay advanced rent
and start up and running expenses. A grant application is being sent to an NGO
in Sweden. Byron and Dan are spending less time at the HSF but we are available
as needed. RA provided no funding to the HSF in 2014 to cover expenses. The HSF
is largely breaking even but staff is still not on full salary. As described
below, recovery experts from the U.S. provide excellent training, motivation
and sharing of expertise.

8.Website
and Facebook – Thanks to Mike Houle and Shelia Stigall, the RA website and
Facebook sites are up and providing good information on RA and its work. We are
in need of managers for the sites.

9.Dan and
Agnes in Ghana – Dan and Agnes arrived in Ghana on April 22 and plan on
returning to Maryland on October 22, 2014.

10.Ethiopia
women’s facility – In response to a request by David Whiters, in June, 2014
RA provided $1,000 to assist in the establishment of a transitional housing
facility in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

11.Kristen
Harper in DC – As the executive director of the Association of Recovery
Schools, Kristen was in Maryland/Wshington, DC from August 5 to September 6.
She provided information about RA at places such as ONDCP and as a panelist at
the 4th SAMSHA & NAADAC recovery lunch which she attended with Mike Houle
of RA.

12.Georgia
Southern Univ. to Ghana – A group of over ten students and staff from
Georgia Southern University spent the month of July in Ghana. Six of the
students helped to carry the recovery message with RA in Accra, and others were
with recovery facilities and 12-step groups in Cape Coast. This third visit
from GSU did a lot to create synergy between recovery in Ghana and the U.S.

13.Texas
Tech University to Ghana – Ladd Hight was in Ghana with RA/HWF from June 4
– July 23. He spent most of his time at the HSF and Oxford Houses but also assisted
at Pantang Rehab and other facilities in
Ghana. He did a lot by helping clients work the steps and sharing his
experiences regarding recovery in the U.S.

14.Recovery
personalities visit Ghana – The recovery professionals and others listed
below contributed much to the RA and other prevention, treatment and recovery
programs in Ghana in 2014. As of now no visitors are scheduled for 2015 but we
are in discussions with “The Midnight Mission” in Los Angeles which may send
two 12-step people in long term recovery to assist in Ghana next year.

15.David
Whiters to Ghana – David spent two weeks in Ghana in March and moved with
Byron to do a lot to further efforts of RA and others. He facilitated several
workshops and worked with public and private efforts regarding ROSC, 12-step
and related efforts.

16.Gerald
Marti to Ghana – Gerald was in Ghana from June 10 – 23 and provided
excellent training in Back to Basics, 12-step and medical aspects. He was
particularly helpful at the HSF and to the senior staff of the Narcotics
Control Board where drug courts and related matters were discussed. Health care
workers at Pantang Hospital learned a lot from Gerald.

17.Jerry Moe
to Ghana – Jerry was in Ghana from May 30 to June 8 and did outstanding
work to further the RA presence in Ghana as related families and children. His
teaching techniques are being widely used. For a full article on Jerry’s visit,
see RA Facebook page.

18.Sheila
Stigall to Ghana – Shelia spent two months at the HSF in 2013 and another
two months beginning July 16, 2014. Shelia taught 12-step recovery and added to
the HSF in so many ways. She did much to enhance the RA Facebook page where
details of her visit can be found.

19.Nancy
Alexander to Ghana – Nancy was in Ghana for about a week beginning June 26
attending an international conference. She visited the HSF and Oxford House and
introduced RA to the Accra East Rotary Club.On returning to the U.S., she assisted RA prepare several documents
including the RA fact sheet.

20.Consortium
meeting – On September 25, RA/Hopeful Way Foundation sponsored a consortium
meeting with 40 persons present. “Recovery Ghana” may be the name of the
consortium which holds great potential for furthering a recovery movement in
Ghana. A separate report will be sent. Next meeting to be held on October 30.

21.National
Commission for Civic Education – GHC1,000 ($350) was provided to the
National Commission for Civic Education to enable their field staff to develop
addiction related programs at schools in Accra. NCCE arranged for Jerry Moe to
visit children from families suffering from addiction in Accra.

22.Prayer
camps – RA is developing a relationship with prayer camps, where many
Ghanaians who suffer from addiction are taken for treatment. A resident of the
Oyarifa Oxford House goes on a weekly basis to such a camp where he carry’s the
12-step message as part of a University of Ghana research team.

23.Kintampo
request – RA has received a request from a person in recovery at the
Kintampo Rural Health Training School to assist in developing a program to deal
with an apparently growing problem with alcohol and drugs in the town. The
school prepares mid-level health professionals to serve in Ghana’s rural areas.

24.Theme for
2015 event in DC – We are looking for ideas to guide the theme “Youth” for
the RA 2015 event and board meeting. Please submit ideas.

25.RA office
– In the coming months steps will be taken to establish a RA office, probably
in the Bethesda/Washington, DC area.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Below is additional information provided in a summary report to the board of directors of the Hopeful Way Foundation on 17 July, 2014:

Professional Visitors
to Ghana – From 2008 – 2014 the HWF/Recovery Africa has arranged programs
for 12 professionals from North America in Ghana to share their expertise in treatment
and recovery from addiction.In 2014
visits were made by Dr. David Whiters, Dr. Gerald Marti and Mr. Jerry Moe of
Hazelden Betty Ford Center.Additional
visits will likely be arranged in 2015.Dr. Marti is doing research on the use of drug courts in the U.S. and
may be in a position to respond to interest from Ghana in this area.

University Students
Visit Ghana – From 2012 - 2014 over 25 students and staff members from “Recovery
Campus Programs” at Texas Tech and Georgia Southern Universities were hosted in
Ghana by HWF.The purpose of the visits
is to help strengthen the recovery in Ghana and to better the personal recovery
of the students.The visits assist in
establishing permanent relationships which are intended to help treatment and
recovery in Ghana. From 7 – 11 July, 2014, seven students from Georgia Southern
U. were in Accra.A student from Texas
Tech is also in Ghana from 4 June – 25 July, spending most of his time at the
HSF.Shelia StargillA detailed program
of activities is available from Dan.

Project Development
Policy of HWF – Rather than initiate and take long-term responsibility for
recovery from addiction projects in Ghana, the HWF rather wants to support
initiatives that will become independent or will become self-sufficient or will
be supported by other organizations.The
proposed House of St. Francis is one such project.

Collaborators in
Ghana – Numerous organizations and individuals in Ghana are supporting the
work of the HWF.In addition to the
Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, the Ministry of Heath, the Narcotics Control Board
(NACOB), the University of Ghana, Chosen Rehab and others, new collaborators
include the National Commission for Civic Education, the Ashaiman Federation of
Youth and Lord Kenya in Kumasi.

Collaborators in the
U.S. –

-Recovery
Africa (RA) – Dan is leading an effort in the U.S. to establish an NGO
named “Recovery Africa” whose purpose is to support recovery efforts of the HWF
in Ghana and in other countries of Africa.Dr. Al Mooney, Mr. Larry Gaines, Byron Merriweathe, Kristen Harper and
others are also involved with the establishment of RA.For more information go to the RA website
“recoveryafria.org”.

-Oxford House,
Inc – Mr. Paul Molloy and his staff are making it possible for Byron
Merriweather to volunteer for twelve months in Ghana in 2014/15.

-Kelly
Foundation/Serenity Park – Mr. Larry Gaines and his staff train Ghanaians
in Recovery Dynamics in Little Rock, Arkansas.Mr. Gaines expects to visit Ghana again to train staff members of NACOB,
the HSF.Their copyrighted Recovery
Dynamics will be used at the HSF.

-Faces and
Voices ofRecovery – The entire staff give guidance to our efforts
in the U.S., and post the HWF newsletters on their Recovery Resources
Guide-Africa. (http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources/international/International.php)They further “networks of support between
recovery communities in the US and internationally”, and support advocacy and
peer recovery efforts.

-The
Healing Place of Wake County – HWF supporters, including Dr. Eugene
Dordoye, Byron Merriweather, the O’Laughlins and Sylvester Adu of NACOB, have
received training at The Healing Place where Recovery Dynamics and Therapeutic
Community approaches are used.

-DePaul
University Center for Community Development – Dr. Leonard Jason’s Center
did a survey of the Oyarifa Oxford House, and keeps up to date with our efforts
at the HSF.

-Council
of Ghanaian Organizations (COGA) – Mr. Kofi Afful, former chairman of COGA,
is a board member of Recovery Africa and helps inform the Ghanaian community in
the Washington, DC area about HWF/HSF.Dr. Dordoye spoke on behalf of HWF at the COGA 55th
Independence Anniversary Dinner Dance held in Washington, DC on 10 March,
2012.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Under the chairmanship of Prof. Joseph Asare, the Hopeful Way Foundation board of directors met at Peace Be Clinic in Accra last week. It was decide that definite steps will be taken to look into the feasibility of establishing a women's house for women who want non-medical recovery. Such a house would be established and run in close collaboration with Pantang Hospital and the Korle Bu Hospital Addictive Diseases Unit. Part of the report to the meeting included the following:

Oyarifa Oxford House (aka “Bill Moore House”)– This recovery
house/transitional house was opened in mid-2009 and has had as many as ten
residents.With a capacity of twelve,
the Oyarifa House presently has three residents and is in need of
revitalization and restructuring.It is
suggested that recovery programs be introduced along with more structured use
of time by residents. With the view of
establishing a closer relationship, we are in discussions with the Medical Director
of Pantang Hospital and the Addictive Diseases Unit.

Koo Tufo Oxford House
– Located in Kukurantumi, this is an Oxford House that provides treatment and
recovery programs to an average of about five residents.The HWF makes regular visits to assist in
strengthening the facility which is being sponsored by the Books for Africa
Library Project.

Oxford House Chapter
– We are still in the process of establishing a grouping of recovery houses in
Ghana which is intended to monitor and support the houses.Hopeful Way Foundation would in turn assist
in building the chapter that could remain part of HWF or could possibly be
registered as an NGO.

Byron Merriweather
– With the support of Oxford House, Inc. and Recovery Africa, Byron returned to
Ghana on 16 June, 2014 to begin a stay of at least one year. While he will
assist with the development of the HSF, his main focus will be on the
strengthening of Oxford Houses and the establishment of additional houses,
including a house for women and a chapter.He will also assist with the expansion of 12-step meetings and related
activities.

Hopeful Way Web Site and Blog – The HWF website (http://hopefulway.webs.com) is updated
from time to time but the blog (hopefulwayghana.blogspot.com)
is posted regularly.From 2008 until
present, 110 articles have been posted on the blog which give a good history of
activities of the HWF.

House of St. Francis
(HSF) – The House has been the focus of our activities for the past three years.It began accepting clients on 1 September,
2012, it was registered as an NGO in September, 2013 and by June, 2014 had 22
male residents and a female outpatient. The
HSF will be handed over to the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in August,
2015.Thanks to the presence of Byron
Merriweather, numerous professionals and Edwin Ahadzie and his staff, the HSF
is making excellent progress.The HWF
discontinued HSF salary support in January, 2014, and treatment fees were
raised to GHC600 per month.The facility
brings in enough income to cover core running expenses.Some clients do not pay fees or pay reduced
fees.Major challenges include the
establishment of a HSF fundraising committee, the need to pay salaries rather
than a stipend to HSF staff and a greater involvement of the Archdiocese in the
HSF board of directors.Income and
expenses for the HSF for 2013 were as follows:

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Georgia Southern University is sending nine
students and a staff person to do recovery work in Accra beginning today, July 6.This will be their third trip to Ghana where
lots has been done to help carry the message of recovery, particularly in Cape
Coast. The Director of the GSU Center for Addiction recovery, Ms. Emily
Eisenhart, says that “I have
fallen in love forever with the country, people, and culture and never wants to
stop trying to help people in Ghana and all over Africa to find ways into
recovery”.Led by Christina Beslin, a
group of seven from GSU are currently in Accra where they have a full program at the House of St.
Francis, at the Oyarifa Oxford House, Pantang Hospital, Addictive Diseases Unit
and more.

In 2012/13
the Texas Tech Center for the Study of
Addiction and Recovery sent over 15 staff and students to help RA carry the
message of recovery to Ghana.The impact
has been huge on everyone concerned.Thomas
Kimball, Ph.D., the director of the center has decided not to send large groups
to Ghana but to do something more sustainable over the long run.The vision “is to have two Texas Tech
graduate students spend a semester in Ghana working with the House of St.
Francis and other RA programs.Ideally,
there would be TTU students in Ghana for the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.”Dr. Kimball adds: “Everyone so far that I
have talked to is excited about this. I think it will be very beneficial for
these students and your work in Ghana.” To begin the new collaboration, Ladd
Hight is currently in Ghana for a two month stay assisting and learning about a
variety of treatment and recovery programs.He said: “Since arriving in Ghana my life has been changed. It’s unlike
anything I could have imagined.The
staff at the HSF is amazing. They are really invested in their clients’
recovery and well-being. The clients are
passionate about their recovery and the twelve steps.
They’ve also taught me about the food and the proper Ghanaian way to eat it.
It’s been fun and refreshing learning about another culture firsthand.”

Jerry Moe of the Hazelden Betty Ford Center visited Ghana
from May 30 to June 8 to do training at Recovery Africa/Hopeful Way Foundation programs.His training methods and materials have
changed the way Ghana’s recovery movement looks at the “disease concept” of
addiction.In his report to RA, Jerry
said: “Thanks for an amazing experience
during my recent visit. Many, many really good things are happening in Ghana
when it comes to treatment and recovery”. In his trip report, Jerry suggested that the
House of St. Francis make more systematic use of professionals, provide additional
support for HSF staff and team up with a local university to develop outcome
studies.Regarding the Oyarifa Oxford
House, he called for a much more structured approach with residents involved
with work/volunteer programs.He urged
RA to “make the house shine so prospective residents would want to live there”.Based on a National Commission on Civic
Education arranged visit to Jamestown in Accra, Jerry suggests that the youth
in the area go to the House of St. Francis to be trained by the residents to “carry
a strong anti-drug message.I see this
as a huge WIN/WIN possibility.”

Jerry also did a group with young
children, coordinated by the National Commission on Civic Education, in
Jamestown. In describing the experience, Jerry said, “Halfway through the
group, you could see the emotions so clearly etched on the children’s beautiful
faces. At the appropriate moment, I asked these courageous youth if they were
growing up in a family like mine. Five immediately raised their hands in the
air while others contemplated what to do. Thirty seconds passed, and now
everyone’s hand was raised. While they looked around the group, I said ‘You are
not alone, and it’s not your fault.’ A few of the children started to cry while
others nodded affirmatively.”

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Today, June 14, 2014, the 39 year old Delali S. was laid to
rest at a service held at City God Church in Accra, Ghana.The hundreds of mourners included seven from
the House of St. Francis (HSF) family.Delali had been a much loved resident and alumni of the HSF for over a
year; he passed away on May 3 after an illness which got the best of him.A generous and gifted person “with a high IQ,
exceptional talents and excellent human relation skills”, Delali will be
greatly missed.The pastor at today’s
service said: “This is the most honest funeral that I have ever attended. The family
asked for forgiveness for the shortcomings of Delali; The Lord says ‘I like
that’”.

The program for the funeral paid tribute to Delali’s many
achievements and went on to say: “The last 15 years of his life, Delali battled
with dependence on Pethidine, a painkiller belonging to the Opiate family.This very powerful painkiller was used in treating
the pain of sickle cell borne pain crisis from is teens.He struggled with this dependence for about
five years before it came to the family’s notice.Over the past ten years he gave a good fight.Those of us who cared about him felt he
should have fought harder but alas we don’t understand the hold of addiction
over a person’s life.The last two years
of his life, he found a new family in the House of St. Francis, a rehab house
for people with drug dependency problems.They were a superb family!They
accepted him as one of their own and their rehab programme brought Delali a
renewed sense of dignity and self-worth.He also drew closer to God while there.”For more information see tributes at “rememberingdela.com”.